The City of New Bedford has received the $12 million SAFER grant.

The federal grant announced by Congressman William Keating lifts the threat of the layoffs of 63 firefighters for the time being.

The city had been on edge since SAFER grant funding was denied to the city last year, since there was still money left in the city coffers from the previous round of funding. October's government shutdown slowed down another application for the federal funds.

With the announcement, the city has two years of assured funding for firefighters.

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